Automatic contact printer



Dec. 12, 1950 R. P. LEAVITT ETAL AUTOMATIC CONTACT PRINTER 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 8, 1947 .1 TORNEYX Dec. 12, 1950 R. P. LEAYITT ETAL AUTOMATIC CONTACT PRINTER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 8, 1947 e 1L S wm 1 H Mm 0/ .6 mm

Patented Dec. 12, 1950 AUTOMATIC CONTACT PRINTER Roger P. Leavitt and William M. White, Rochestor, N. Y., assignors to Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application January 8, 1947, Serial No. 720,866

17 Claims.

The present invention relates to photography, and more particularly to contact printers.

The principal object of the invention is the provision of a novel device for retaining the negative and sensitized paper or sheet in proper position over the printing aperture.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a platen moving means which serves to roll the platen down evenly and smoothly onto the sensitized paper or sheet without causing the latter to slip or move relative to the negative and to provide the desired contact between the negative and the sensitized material.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of various electric controls which are actuated and/or controlled by the platen and its moving means.

To these and other ends, the invention resides in certain improvements and combinations of parts, all as will be hereinafter more fully described, the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the end of the specifications.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a printer, showing the relation of the platen and moving means constructed in accordance with the present invention and also showing two of the control switches;

Fig. 2 is a partial side View of the upper part of the printer, showing the platen in its elevated position, and the platen carriage in its retracted or inoperative position;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a side view of a portion of the printer illustrated in Fig. 2, but on a larger scale than the latter, showing details of the platen elevating mechanism, and the construction of the platen carriage and a drive means therefor;

Fig. 5 is a right end elevation view of the upper left part of the printer shown in Fig. 1, showing the arrangement of three of the control switches;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 4 but taken from the other side of the printer;

Fig. 7 is a right'end elevation view of the right portion of the printer illustrated in Fig. 1, but on a larger scale than the latter, showing the drive motor and the drive means for the carriage, as well as the carriage positioning means;

Fig. 8 is a wiring diagram of the printer when only a timer is used, and the printer is hand operated; and

Fig. 9 is a wiring diagram when complete automatic control is provided for the printer.

Similar reference numerals throughout the various views indicate the same parts.

Fig. 1 shows a printer which comprises a housing II, the top l2 of which is provided with a printing aperture l3 over which the negative and sensitive paper or material are to be placed, as is well known. The front of the housing is provided with a panel I4 on which various controls and switches, to be later described, may be mounted. The housing has positioned therein the means by which the sensitized material may be exposed, such means comprising a plurality of light bulbs arranged in parallel with a separate switch for each bulb, as shown diagrammatically in Fig. 9. In the center of this light bank, a pilot light and switch are provided. This pilot light may be removed and a printing bulb substituted when special effects are desired. A master switch is provided for turning on all the lights except the pilot light. These various switches are carried by the panel I 4 and are shown diagrammatically in Fig. 9 to which reference may be had for a complete wiring diagram. This diagram will be more fully discussed later on.

The negative and sensitized material are held in contact over the aperture l3 by a platen, generally indicated by the numeral H), which consists of a curved flexible metal sheet approximately .020 inch thick. On the convex or under side of the curved metal sheet is cemented a half-inch sheet l6 of Airfoam type of rubber with a sealed edge even with the metal sheet.

The rear end of the platen is pivoted to a pivot bar [8 carried by the back of the housing ll adjacent the top thereof, as clearly illustrated in Figs. t and 6. In use, the platen is moved downwardly to flatten it into a plane so as to engage and hold the material over the aperture I3 during the printing operation. It has been found, however, that if the pivot point of the platen is above the top l2, the lowering of the platen tends to slide the material in one direction, whereas if the pivot point is too far below the top, the platen tends to slide the material in the opposite direction when lowered to the operating 3 its erected and inoperative position, as shown in Fig. 2. The front end of the platen has connected thereto a handle 22 by which the platen may be lowered, for the purpose to be later described.

The pritning may be accomplished by merely grasping the handle 22 to move the platen l to its operative position and substantially in. the;

plane of the top 52 to hold firmly the film and sensitized material over the printing aperture. The printing light may then be turned on tomake the exposure. provide a means, such for example, as a movable carriage, generally indicated by the numeral 25,

for moving the platen to and; holding it in its operative position during the printing operation. This carriage is also utilized to operate and control the printing lights andivarious other mechanisms to be later more fully described in connection with Fig. 9.

This carriage 25 comprises a pair of flat plates 26 and 21, the oppositeends of which are bent down on lines 28': to provide triangular shaped" end pieces 29 and 30 respectively, as shown in Figs.- 1, 4' and 6. The upper front edges of the end' pieces 29 and the upper rear edges ofthe pieces 3i) have: journaled therein rollers 3i. and 32; The adjacent corners of the pieces 29 and 30 overlap and form bearings for an intermediate roller 33- which lies in the same plane as rollers 3| and 32. It will be apparent that the roller 33 affords a hinge connection between the platesv 28 and 21 so that the latter and the rollersv 31, 32', and 33 may. be arranged. in a plane during the printing operation, as shown in Fig. 1', or; the.

plates may be pivoted about the roller'33 tomove:

the plates and the rollers; out ofa plane when the; carriage is in its, inoperative position, asshown in, Fig. 4, the purpose of which will be later described. The front edge 3d and the rear edge; 35 of the plates 26 and- 2'! are bent over,v to form guards to prevent the operator from catching; his fingers betweenthe rollers 3!, 32, and 33 and the top of the platen.

In order to hold the materialv in, proper position over the aperture l3 during printing, the lower edge of each, triangular piece 29 and 3! has, mounted therein a roller. 35. When the carriageis movedforward, each roller 36 engages under a flange 3'! of an angle-iron the other flange ofwhich, is connected to the side of the. housing I I, as clearly shown in Fig 7; flanges 3'! provide tracks orguides for the rollers 36, and are so positioned as to cause the rollers 3|, 32, and 33 to compress thelayer of rubber IE to about a quarter of an inch, and thus afford positioning means for the upper rollers 3!, 32., and 33. The platen 26 is provided with a handle 38 for manually moving the carriage, as:will be later explained. The travel of the carriage and rollers-3i, 32, 3,3, and'SB is in a straight line until the carriagereaches a point immediately in backofrthe pivot barl3. Atthis point,rthe lower roller- 36 comes out from under the flange 3'! and the upperrollers 3i, 3?, and 33 moveoif the printer top l2. and are picked up by apair of spaced curved rails 39 which guide; therollers back and down behind the housing I] to the position shown in Figs. 4 and 6. During: the movement over, the curvedrails 39, the-plates 26 and 21. piyotabout the middle oller, 33-sothat the-plates are. no longer in a plane, as is apparent from aninspectionDiFiQsi and 6. When inthe, rearward postiion the adjacent edge of theplates 2,6 and12'l are separated; In order to preventinjury to the operator when thecarriage moves forward to bring these plates into a plane;

It is preferred, however, to-

These this joint between the plates is closed by an extension 40 carried by the plate 26. See Figs. 4 and 6.

The apparatus above described may be operated manually by first placing the sensitized paper or material in position over the negative. The platen [5, may then; be lowered by, means of the handle 22, and the handle 38' may then be grasped to roll the carriage 25 forward from the inoperative position shown in Figs. 4 and 6 to itsoperable position shown in Fig. 1. During such movement, the rollers 3!, 32, and 33 compress the rubber layer It to retain the material and negative, securely in position over the aperture. The lights may then be turned on manually and the printing made, after which the lights may be, turned. 011, Then the carriage may be slid backwardly to its inoperative position to free the platen. The latter is then raised automatically to its inoperative position shown in Fig. 2by means of the spring 20.

It is preferred, however, to provide a powerdrive for the carriage and to utilize the platen and the movingcarriage to operate and/orcontrol the various electrical switches and circuits. To this end, each side of the housing H, adjacent the topthereof, has mounted thereon a pair. of spaced-and aligned sprockets H and 42 over which an endless chain 53 is wrapped, as best shownin Fig. l. The front sprockets M areidlers, but the rear sprockets d2 are pinned or otherwise con nected to a jack shaft 44 positioned at the rear of the cabinet and'below the top l2; This jack shaft carries a sprocket itlconnected by anendless chain 6 to a sprocket 47 connected to the shaft 42' of a motor 39 through a clutch, broadly designated by the numeral 5a. This'clutchpermitsthe driving of the jack shaft ineither direction, but does not constitute a part of the present invention. This clutch is, however, fully described and claimed in the applicants application, Serial No. 731,233, filed February 2'7, 1947. Thus; the chain 43 may be driven in either direction by the motor 3%. In order that such movement ofl'the chains may be utilized to move the carriage, the

latter has the front edge ofeach triangular end,

portion 29 pinnedi or otherwise secured at 5l to the chains so the carriage will move forwardly and backwardly as a unit with the chains431- A reversing relay it is positioned above and in the circuit of the motor ie and is adapted toreverse the motor polarity so that the motor may alternately rotate in opposite directions to move the carriage into and out ofoperative position. The wiring of the mot'or ifi and the relay '13 are shown in Fig. 9 and will be later discussed.

The operation of themotor driven carriageand the various controls will now be discussed in connection with Fig. 9 to which reference should now be had. This reference shows a main switch 6 which cuts off' all power to the machine, this switch being connected to a suitable source of. power, not shown. The common. groundcircuit 29! passes through the main switch 6 and contact F along. 282, branching off at 204 to main: motor 5S and at 2E5 to motor reversing relay l8}, and continuing on 202 to timer relay '19. Another; lead from the line 2B2 is 203, with branches. at 295 to pilot light 32, and 2m to the main bank of light bulbs 63!. The return for the pilot light is through switch Mi, line I M, switch E to the line ifll. The line 2% continues to the clock motor 50; The heavy lines 2512' and 2&3 arethe common ground for all the elements of the printer and will not'be referred to later.

This wiring diagram shows the relative positions of all the switches and relays when the printer parts are in their inoperative position and. ready to run, as shown in Figs. 2, 4, and 9. negative and the sensitized material are then placed in proper position over the printing aperture I3. Micro-switch 5, which is operated by the angle-iron I9, Fig. 5, is actuated by moving the curved platen downwardly, and assumes the position indicated by the dotted line, Fig. 9, making contact at K. This completes the circuit to the motor 49, starting at IOI to contact E of main switch 6, through line I04, branching off at I05, through contact J of Micro-switch I, down through I06, contact K of switch 5 through I! to motor 49, which is in a forward driving relation and starts moving the carriage forward, as above described. lvIicro-switches I and 4 are located at the back of the cabinet or housing, the Micro-switches" 2 and 3 are located at the front of the cabinet, as shown in Figs. 1 and 5 respectively. As soon as the carriage 25 starts forward, switch I, which has been held in its solid line position by the backward position of the carriage, now assumes its dotted line position, making contact at I. This breaks the first circuit for the motor through switch 5, but now sends power to the motor through IOI, contact E, I04, I05, contact I, line I08, contact L of the Micro-switch 2, I09, back on III] to I0! and to the motor 49. This routing of the power to the motor is so that the motor may be shut off at the front end of the printer'even though the Micro-switch 5 remains closed.

With the forward start of the carriage, the Micro-switch 4 moves to its closed position, as shown in dotted lines, but actuates nothing, as there is an open circuit still in the line I I6, switch 3 being in its open position. The motor 49 also is receiving power through the timer 55, which takes power from line I08 by means of line IZI through contact A of the timer relay I9, down line I20, through contact R of the timer cutout switch 9, down line II9 to I I0, and line I 0? to the motor. The timer 55 is shown diagrammatically in Fig. 9 and does not, per se, constitute a part of the present invention. The timer herein illustrated is of the construction shown in the applicant's copending application No. 699,225, filed September 25, 1946, to which reference may be had. It is believed, however, that the diagrammatic illustration will be suificient to those familiar with timers to understand the present invention. This timer is manually adjusted for a pre-selected printing time by adjusting the timer switch No. 7, Fig. 9, as explained in said application 699,225.

As the carriage completes its forward run, an operating plate 62 carried by the end 29 and of the shape best shown in Figs. 1 and 8 first actuates Micro-switch 2 into the position indicated by the dotted line, shown in Fig. 9. This breaks the circuit through the contact L to the motor so that if the timer cut-out switch 9 is also open, the power to the motor 49 will be out off. In case the timer 55 is bein used and the timer cut-out switch 9 is closed, the motor continues to obtain power from contact A in the timer relay I9 until the making of contact M in switch 2 at which time power is supplied to the relay I9 through line III and contact D in the motor reversing relay I8, through Hz to contact S of the timercut-out switch 9, through II 4 to timer relay I9, energizing this relay. Thi causes contact at A to be broken and to cut off the Iii.)

power to the motor 49. A very slight travel further forward of the carriage closes Microswitc 3 and contact H. This energizes the motor reversing relay I8 which obtains its power from line I M contact E in main switch 6, II 5 contact G in the Micro-switch 4 which is in a closed position, line II 6 to contact H, switch 3, and back on II! to the motor reversing relay I8. This energizing the relay I8 and breaks contact at D, and makes contact at D, first breaking the circuit that energizing the timer relay I9 so that on completion of the timing cycle the timer will not repeat itself, and second mak-- ing contact at D in the motor reversin relay I8 thattakes power from line H6 up through II8, contact D, and back to H2 to self-energize the motor reversing relay 18. The closing of the motor reversing relay I8 also changes the polarity of the motor 49 by any of the well-known reversing circuits so that the next time the motor is energized, it will run so as to carry the carriage backwardly to its inoperative position, as shown in Figs. 2, 4, and 6.

For the momentary energizing of the timer relay I9, the making of contact at C self-energizes the timer relay I9 which through circuits I08, I2I, contact C, I22, and the normally closed timer switch I, line I23, to contact N of the push-button switch 8, back through I24 to II 4, and thence to relay I9. Energizing the relay I9 also closes contact B so that the clock motor is energized, obtaining its power from MI. contact E and switch 6, line I04, contact B in timer relay, back through I25 and I30 to the timer motor 60. Line I25 continues by the clock motor and joins I21 to supply power to the bank of lights GI. Upon completion of the pre-set time interval, the timer switch I is opened by the clock mechanism of the timer, not shown, and breaks the self-energizing circuit of the timer relay I9. This permits the relay to assume the position indicated in the drawing, which results in the opening of the contact B turning off the clock motor 60 and lamp bank 6|, and then closing contact A which then supplies power to start the motor 49 for the return travel.

As the carriage moves back, micro-switches 2 and 3 assume the position indicated in solid line in Fig. 9, but the opening of contact H of switch 3 does not cause the opening of motor reversing relay I8 as the latter is self-energized and the closing of contact L of switch 2 furnishes a second source of supply of power to the motor 49. As the carriage completes its backward run, it first actuates Micro-switch I which assumes the solid line position indicated in Fig. 9, breaking the source of power to the motor through contact A in the timer relay I9, and contact L in switch 2 by the breakin of contact I which powers line I08, but sending power to the motor 49 through contact J in switch 5. At the same time, switch 4 is opened and breaks contact G in the self-energizing circuit of the motor relay I8 which opens this relay so that the motor will run forward next time it is energized, As the carriage completes the end of its rearward run, the curved platen I5 is freed so that it may be raised by its spring 20 and remove the pressure on switch 5 which now opens. permitting it to break the remaining power circuit to the motor through contact J, and the motor stops. The printer mechanism is now ready to repeat another cycle.

Should the timer cut-out switch 9 be thrown open breaking contacts R and S, the function of the mechanism diners in that the breaking of the contact L withthe'forward travel of the carriage now turns off the motor. The lamp bank is then controlled by the master switch lei} which supplies power to the bulbs from we through I26, the master switch, M0, line I28, and l2'l. This master switch Hi8 can also be used any time for adjusting dodging material or negatives. Upon the completion of the desired printing time, which is now controlled manually and not by the timer 55, push button 3 is actuated and sends power to the motor -lfi through lines I08, l3l, contact P of push button switch 8, line 29, to tit. and line iii? to the motor. When the carriage moves backward, switch 2 assumes the solid line position shown in Fig. 9, through contact L- supplies power so that push button switch 8 need only to supply a momentary impulse to the motor. The mechanism operates from here on as previously described.

When the timer cut-out switch 3 is closed and the timer is controlling the return of the carriage, the function of the timer may be cut short of its completed pre-set run by the actuation of the push button switch 3 as this opens the contact N, breaking the self-energizing circuit of the timer relay l9; and at the same time completing power circuits to the motor through contact P in switch 8 and contact A in the timer energizing relay. This may be used if the wrong time interval is selected or the wrong type of paper should be discovered after the timing cycle is started. The pilot light switch Ml supplies power to the pilot light I 32 and may be opened orclosed as the operator desires.

In some instances, it may be desirable to manually operate the platen and carriage in connection with the pre-set timer. In such a case the simplified wiring diagram such as shown in Fig. 8 may be used. To secure this result,the two switches 2 and 3 are connected in series and are positioned in the path of the plate 52 carried by the front triangular end piece 29 of the carriage 25., switch 3' being in the closed position while switch 2 is in the normally open position. As the carriage 25 moves forward, the plate 52 engages and closes switch 2' to supply power from the line is through switch 2 and 3 to line H and timer relay l9 and line 12 to the other side i the circuit. This closes the circuit through the .7

relay T9 and energizes the latter to move the armature thereof downwardly to closeswitches B and C. Further forward movement of the carriage finally brings the plate 62 into engage-' ment with the switch 3' to open the main circuit through the relay Iii. However, the relay is now self-energized through lines i6 and .73, switch C, line 75, pro-set timer switch I, line l5, to relay l9 and thence back to the return line 12. The lights (ii are energized through lines iii and it, switch B", line '57 to lights 6| and then through the return lines Ti to line 72. A master switch 80 similar to that shown in Fig. 9 may be used, if desired, to directly connect the line Iii to line TV to illuminate the lamps while the timer circult is open. Thus the timer mechanism can-be used" with the manually controlled platen and carriagewithout utilizing the various other controls described above.

The front panel It When. used in connection a. With the simplified arrangement shown in Fig: 8, the timer and master switch for the lampfil may also be placed on the panel l5. V

From the above description, it is apparent that the present invention provides a novel platen and carriage construction. Also, the downward movement of the platen initiates an operating cycle by which the carriage is automatically moved forward and backward, and the movement of. the carriage is utilized to operate various switches to control the desired circuits and mechanisms.

While one embodiment of the inventionhas been disclosed, it is to be understood that the novel idea may be carried out in a number of ways. This application is, therefore, not to be limited to the precise details described, but is intended to cover all variations and modifications thereof falling within the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

a l. In a photographic printing machine having atop formed with a printing aperture, the combination of a curved flexible platen adapted to hold a sensitized sheet over said aperture, means for hingedly connecting one end of said platen to said top, a rolling carriage movable substantially in a plane and into engagement with said platen to flatten the latter into a' plane to hold said sheet in position over said aperture, said carriage being movable to an inoperative position and out of contact with said platen, and spring means connected to said platen for moving the latter about said hinge to an elevated position when said carriage is moved to said inoperative position.

2. In a photographic printing machine having a top formed with a printing aperture, the combination, of a curved flexible platen hinged at one end to said top, a carriage movable across said top to engage said platen to flatten the latter into a plane over said aperture, said carriage comprising a plurality of hingedly connected plates, and platen engaging rollers carried by said plates and including a roller which provides a hinge between said plates.

. 3. In a photographic printing machine having a top formed with a printing aperture, the combination, of a curved flexible platen hinged at one end to said top, a carriage movable across said top to engage said platen to flatten the latter into a plane over said aperture, said carriage comprising a plurality of hingedly connected plates, platen engaging rollers carried by said plates, and roller means carried by said plates and engaging said machine to hold said first rollers in position to flatten said platen.

4. In a photographic printing machine'having a top formed with a printing aperture, the combination of a self flexing platen hinged at one end to said top, a compressible member mounted on the under side of platen and adapted to engage and hold a sensitized sheet over said aperture, a rolling carriage comprisin hingedly con nected plates movable over said top and into engagement with said platen to move the latter into a plane and to compress said membenroller means carried by said plates, and means on said machine engaging said roller means to hold said carriage in positive engagement with said platen.

5. In a photographic printing machine having a top formed with a printing aperture, the combination of a self flexing platen hinged at one end to said top, a compressible member mounted on the under side of platen and adapted to en gage and hold a sensitized sheet over said aperiture, a carriagemovable over said top; and into engagement with said platen to move the latter into a plane and to compress said member, said carriage comprising a pair of plates, platen engaging rollers carried by said plates, one of said rollers connecting and providing a hinge between said plates, and roller means for holding said first rollers in position to compress said material.

6. In a photographic printing machine having a top formed with a printing aperture, the combination of a self flexing platen hinged at one end to said top, a compressible member mounted on the under side of platen and adapted to engage and hold a sensitized sheet over said aperture, a carriage movable over said top and into engagement with said platen to move the latter into a plane and to compress said member, said carriage comprising a pair of plates, platen engaging rollers carried by said plates, one of said rollers connecting and providin a hinge between said plates, means for holding said rollers in position to compress said material, and means for moving said platen automatically about its hinge to an elevated position and to allow said platen to flex when said carriage is moved out of holding relation with said platen.

7. In a photographic printing machine having a top formed with a printing aperture, the combination of a self flexin platen hinged at one end to said top, a compressible member mounted on the under side of platen and adapted to engage and hold a sensitized sheet over said aperture, a carriage movable over said top and into engagement with said platen to move the latter .into a plane and to compress said member, said carriage comprising a pair of plates, platen engaging rollers carried by said plates, one of said rollers connecting and providing a hinge between said plates, turned down ends formed on said plates, a roller carried by each turned down end, and a guide on said machine adapted to be engaged by said latter rollers when said carriage is moved into engagement with said platen to maintain said first rollers in contact and in compressing relation with said platen.

8. In a photographic printing machine having a top formed with a printing aperture, the combination of a self-flexing platen hingedly connected at one end to said top, a carriage movable across said top and into engagement with said platen to press the latter into a plane over said aperture to retain a sensitized sheet in position thereover, said carriage comprising a pair of plates, platen engaging rollers carried by said plates, one of said rollers hingedly connecting said plates, means carried by said plates and cooperating with said machine for retaining said plates in a plane when the carriage is in platen engaging relation, said carriage being movable to an inoperativ position and out of engagement with said platen, and means for guiding and supporting said plates when said carriage is moved to its inoperative position.

9. In a photographic printing machine having a top formed with a printing aperture, the combination of a self-flexing platen hingedly connected at one end to said top, a carriage movable across said top and into engagement with said platen to press the latter into a plane over said aperture to retain a sensitized sheet in position thereover, said carriage comprising a pair of plates, platen engaging rollers carried by said plates, one of said rollers hingedly connecting said plates, means carried by said plates and cooperating with said machine for retaining said plates in a plane when the carriage is in platen engaging relation, said carriage being movable to an inoperative position and out of engagement with said platen, means for guiding and supporting said plates when said carriage is moved to its inoperative position, and means to move said platen automatically to a raised position when said carriage is moved to its inoperative position.

10. In a photographic printing machine having a top formed with a printing aperture, the combination of a curved flexible platen adapted to hold a sensitized sheet over said aperture, means for hingedly connecting one end of said platen to said top, a carriage mounted on said machine and movable forwardly into engagement with said platen to flatten the latter into a plane to hold said sheet in position over said aperture, said carriage also being movable rearwardly to an inoperative position and out of contact with said platen to free the latter, means connected to said hinge for moving the freed platen about said hinge and to an elevated position, means for moving said carriage, and means operated by said carriage for controlling said moving means.

11. In a photographic printing machine having a top formed with a printing aperture, the combination of a curved flexible platen adapted to hold a sensitized sheet over said aperture, means for hingedly connecting one end of said platen to said top, a carriage mounted on said machine and movable forwardly into engagement with said platen to flatten the latter into a plane to hold said sheet in position over said aperture, said carriage also being movable rearwardly to an inoperative position and out of contact with said platen to free the latter, a motor operatively connected to said carriage to move the latter, a switch in the circuit of said motor, means for connecting said platen to said switch, said platen being manually movable toward said top to close said switch to energize said motor to move said carriage, and means for moving the freed platen away from said top to open said switch to stop said motor when said carriage is moved to its inoperative position.

12. In a photographic printing machine having a top formed with a printing aperture, the combination of a curved flexible platen adapted to hold a sensitized sheet over said aperture, means for hingedly connecting one end or" said platen to said top, a carriage mounted on said machine and movable forwardly into engagement with said platen to flatten the latter into a plane to hold said sheet in position over said aperture, said carriage also being movable rearwardly to an inoperative position and out of contact with said platen to free the latter, a motor operatively connected to said carriage to move the latter, a switch in the circuit or said motor, means for connecting said platen to said switch, said platen being manually movable toward said top to close said switch to energize said motor to move said carriage forwardly, lamps mounted in said machine for illuminating said aperture, a switch in the circuit of said lamps for controlling the lamps, and means on said carriage for engaging said second switch when the carriage is moved completely forward to close said second switch to energize said lamps.

13. In a photographic printing machine having a top formed with a printing aperture, the combination of a curved flexible platen adapted to hold a. sensitized sheet over said aperture, means for hingedly connecting one end of said platen to said top, a carriage mounted on said machine '11 and movable forwardly into engagement with said platen to flatten the latter into a plane to hold said sheet in position over said aperture, said carriage also being movable rearwardly to an inoperative position and out of contact with said platen to free the latter, a motor operatively connected to said carriage to move the latter, a switch in the circuit of said motor, means for connecting said platen to said switch, said platen being manually movable toward said top to close said switch to energize said motor to move said carriage forwardly, lamps mounted in said machine for illuminating said aperture, a timer mechanism, a circuit for said timer and lamps, a

control switch in said lamp and timer circuit, a

means controlled by said carriage for causing the closing of said control switch to energize said lamp and timer when said carriage approaches substantially its forward position, and means controlled by said carriage upon reaching its forward position for opening the circuit to said motor to stop the latter and for reversing the polarity of the motor. 1

'14. In a photographic printing machine having a top formed with a printing; aperture, the.

combination of a curved flexible platen adapted to hold a sensitized sheet over said aperture, means for hing'edly connecting one end of said platen to said top, a carriage mounted on said machine and movable forwardly into engagement withsaid platen to flatten the latter into a plane to hold said sheet in posit-ion over said aperture, saidcarriage also being movable rearwardly to an inoperative position and out of contact with said platen to free the latter, a motor operatively connected to said carriage to 'move the latter, a switch in the circuitof said motonmeans for connecting said platen to said switch, said platen being manually movable toward said top to close said switchto energize said motor to move. said carriage forwardly, lamps mounted in said machine for illuminating said aperture, a timer mechanism, a circuit for Said timer and lamps, a pre-set switch in said timer circuit for controlling he length of t me of 1 lumination of said lamps, and m ans co t ol e by said lire-set. s itch andv era ve, at th n of said time to agai compl e the c r uit o sa motor t energize the latter to move said carriage backwardi5. a photographic printing machine havns; a op fo ed w h a printing, pert r h combination of a curved flexible platen adapted to hold a sensitized sheet over said aperture, means for hingedly connecting one end of said platen to said top, a carriage mounted on said machine and movable forwardly into engage ment'with said platen to flatten the latter into a plane to hold said sheet in position 'over said aperture, said carriage also being movable rearwardly to an inoperative position and out of contact with saidplaten to free the latter, a motor operatively connected to said carriage to move the latter, a switch in the circuit of said motor, means for connecting said platen to said switch, said platen being manually movable toward said top to close said switch to energize said motor to move said carriage forwardly, lamps mounted in said machine for illuminating said aperture, a timer mechanism, a circuit for said timer and lamps, a pre-set' switch insaid timer circuit for controlling the length of time of illumination of said lamps, a motor reversing relay in the motor circuit, a self energizing circuit for said timer including said; pre-set switch so that upon completion of said time said self-energizing circnit will be opened, and means controlled by said-"carriage when the latter reaches its full forward position for closing the circuit to said reversingrelay and for opening the control switch insaid timer and lamp circuit so that said timer will then be energized through said self-energizing circuit. Y

15. In a photographic printing machine having a top formed with a printing apertura'tlle combination of a curved flexible platen adapted to hold a sensitized sheet over said aperture, means for hingedly connecting one end of said platen to said top, but slightly below the surface thereof, a carriage mounted on said machine and movable forwardly into engagement with said platen to flatten the latter into'a plane to hold said sheet in position over said aperture and without slippage relative thereto, said carriage also being movable rearwardly to an inoperative position and out of contact with said platen to free the latter, a motor operatively connected to said carriage to move the latter, a switch in the circuit of said motor, means for connecting said platen to said switch, platen eing manually movable toward said top to close said switch to energize said motor to move said carriage forwardly/lamps mounted in said machine for illuminating said aperture, a timer mechanism, a circuit for said timer and lamps, a pre-set switch in said timer circuit for controlling the length or time of illumination of an lamps, a motor reversing relay in the motor circuit, a self-energizing circuit for said timer including said preset switch so that upon completionof said time said self-energizing circuit will be opened, means controlled by said carriage when the latter reaches its full forward position for closing the circuit to said reversingrelay and for opening the control switch in said timer and lamp circuit so that said timer will then be energized through said selr energizing circuit, the opening of said pre-set switch at the end. of said time serving to open said self-ens; izing circuit to said timer to disconnect said tin, r and lamps and to simultaneously energize said motor to move said carriage backward, and means con trolled by said platen for opening the motor circuit to stop the movement of said carria e when the latter reaches its rearward position.

17. In a photographic printing machine hav ing a top formed with a printing aperture, the combination of a curvedflexible platen adapted to hold a sensitized sheet over said aperture, means for hingedly connecting one end of said platen to said top, but slightly below the sur face thereof, a carriage mounted on said machine and movable forwardly into engagement with said platen to flatten the latter into a plane to hold said sheet in a non-slipping relation over said aperture, said carriage also being movable rearwardly to an inoperative position. and out of contact with said platen to free the latter,- a motor Operatively connected to said carriage'to move the latter, a switch in the circuit of said motor, means for connecting said platen to said switch, said platen being manually movable toward said top to close said switch to energize said motor to move said carriage forwardly, lamps mounted. in said machine for illuminating said aperture,- a timer mechanism, a circuit'for saidltimer and amp a l r t, switch. in said timer circuit for controlling the length cftime ofillumination of said lamps, motor reversing relay in the-motor circuit, a self-energizing circuit for said timer including said pre-set switch so that upon completion of said time said self-energizing circuit will be opened, means controlled by said carriage when the latter reaches its full forward position for closing the circuit to said reversing relay and for opening the control switch in said timer and lamp circuit so that said timer will then be energized through said self-energizing circuit, the opening of said pre-set switch at the end of said time serving to open said self-energizing circuit to said timer to disconnect said timer and lamps and to simultaneously energize said motor to move said carriage backward, means for raising said platen to an elevated position when said carriage has been moved to its inoperative position, and means controlled by the rearward movement of said carriage to break the motor circuit to stop the carriage close the circuit to reversing relay to chan e the polarity of said ROGER P. LEAVI'I'T. WILLIAM M. WHITE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

Number UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Webster Mar. 12, 1907 Knig Feb. 4, 1913 Weidner Apr. 14, 1914 W'estman June 22, 1915 Oxley Mar. 2, 1920 Roth May 2, 1922 Moninger May 23, 1922 Grover Mar. 14, 1944 Jacobson May 27, 1947 

